One big family: Circus trainer loves working with animals

Thursday

Jan 30, 2014 at 12:01 AM

Charity Apple / Times-News

The circus is Vicki Zsilak’s “family business.” Vicki’s grandparents and parents were skilled jugglers in Hungary, and she began learning how to juggle at 6 years old. She went on to attend the Hungary School of the Arts and at age 16 performed with her parents as they entertained audiences throughout the world. “They didn’t force me to do this,” she said in a recent phone interview from Jacksonville, Fla., last week. “I enjoyed it. When your family is in the circus, well, you get involved in it very early. I enjoyed taking care of the animals, too.” Vicki worked with the late world-renowned animal trainer Gunther Gebel-Williams and his son, Mark, and soon after, met the man who would become her husband, Alex Petrov. The couple has two children, Richard, 16, and Sophia, 9. The children attend circus school Wednesdays through Sundays and are off on “travel days,” Mondays and Tuesdays. “The school has two teachers and we have a nursery for the smaller kids,” she said. “It’s really a little traveling city.” Their children also speak Hungarian and are gaining life experience by interacting with families from other countries, she said. Alex and Vicki are part of the 144th edition of the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey circus. “Legends,” the all-new blue tour, will stop at the Greensboro Coliseum for eight shows Feb. 5-9. “It really returns to the traditional circus acts including the Chinese juggling act, Globe riders and more,” she said. Their animal act includes llamas, donkeys, goats, ponies and the latest addition — two male kangaroos named Sydney and Perch. “They’re funny animals,” Vicki said. “We’re still getting accustomed to each other. We started working with them two months ago. That relationship still needs to form.” Animals, like people, have their own personalities and quirks. “It’s not like you can go in there for two or four minutes and then expect them to obey commands. It’s like having children — you need to spend time with them. We spend a lot of time together — they become part of the family. They love to be petted like most animals.” Both Richard and Sophia know how to juggle, and recently, Vicki, Richard and her dad juggled together — “it was so fun to get to share that with them.” Although it is a job, Vicki said every night is different and rewarding. “For me to step out to hear the laughing and clapping, it’s just fantastic. We develop a connection with our audience,” she said.

Shows are at 7 p.m. Wednesday; 10:30 a.m. and 7 p.m. Feb. 6; 7 p.m. Feb. 7; 11 a.m., 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. Feb. 8; and 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. Feb. 9 at the Greensboro Coliseum. Tickets range from $12.50 to $50 and can be purchased at all Ticketmaster outlets, online at ticketmaster.com, by phone at (800) 745-3000 or at the Coliseum box office. An hour prior to the performances, audiences can meet the performers during the All-Access Pre-Show Party.